Rubber shock absorbing means for railway draft riggings



G. E. DATH Nov. 20, 1951 RUBBER SHOCK ABSORBING MEANS FOR RAILWAY DRAFTRIGGINGS 2 SHEETS--SHEET 1 Filed Dec. 27, 1948 l I 25 1 Z4 25 jj nnrenjor: 'GggggeEDQ/lz.

G. E. DATH RUBBER SHOCK ABSORBING MEANS FOR RAILWAY DRAFT RIGGINGS FiledDec.

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Patented Nov. 20, 1951 RUBBER SHOCK ABSORBING MEANS FOR RAILWAYDRAFT'RIGGINGS George E. Dath, Mokena, 111., .assignor to W. H. Miner,Inc.,- Chicago, Ill.,a corporation of Dela.-

ware

Application December 27, 1948, SerialNo. 67,447

This invention relates to improvements in rubber shock absorbingelements especially adapted for use in connection with railway draftriggings.

One object of the invention is to provide a rubber shock absorbingelement composed of a plurality of units, each comprising a plurality ofradially spaced, concentric rubber rings interposed between metal rings,and a plurality of units alternated with the first namad units,comprising metal backing plates having concentric rubber ringsprojecting from opposite sides thereof and having wedging engagementwith the metal rings.

A further object of the invention is to pro 'vide a rubber shockabsorbing element, as set forth in the preceding paragraph, wherein thebacking plates are provided with additional concentric rubber ringsprojecting from opposite sides thereof and bearing on the metal rings-ofthe adjacent units to be compressed thereagainst.

-Other objects of the invention will more clearly appear from thedescription and claims hereinafter following.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification,Figure l is a broken, horizontal, longitudinal sectional view of thecasing and pressure transmitting plunger of a shock absorbing mechanism,illustrating my improved rubber shock absorbing element in connectiontherewith. Figure 2 is an elevational view of one of the metal rings ofthe sets employed in my improved shock absorbing element, the ring shownbeing that at the right hand end of Figure 1, looking from left to rightin said figure. Figure 3 is an elevational view of one of the backingplates and the associated rubber rings of the same, the backing platebeing that at the left hand end of Figure 1, looking from left to Figure4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through two-adjacent unitsof the shock absorbing element shown in Figure 1, said sectioncorresponding substantially to the line 4-4 of Figure 5. Figure 5 is aside elevational view of Figure 4, looking from left to right in saidfigure. Figure 6 is a side elevational View of Figure 4, looking fromright to left in said figure.

In said drawings, my improved rubber shock absorbing element is shown asemployed in connection with a shock absorber of well-known design,including a casing l0 open at its front end and closed at its rear endby a transverse wall H, and a pressure transmitting plunger l2 slidinglytelescoped within the casing, my improved shock absorbing element beinginterposed between the plunger l2 and said rear end wall of the casing.

' My improved shock absorbing element comprises broadly a plurality ofunits A-A arranged in series, and a plurality of units B-B also arrangedin series :and alternated with the units A-A.

' Each unit .A includes outer and inner, rectangular rubber rings l3 andI4 and an elongated central rubber block I5, front and rear metal ringsl6-l6 between which the ring 13 is interposed, front and rear metalrings l'I-l'l between which the ring [4 is interposed, and front andrear pan-shaped members 18-18 bB-r tween which the block I5 isinterposed.

The metal rings l6 and I! of each unitAiare provided with laterallyextending, peripheral, inner and router flanges "1-19 at the inner sidesthereof, which flare outwardly. The panshaped members Iii-l8 of eachunit A are also provided with laterally extending, peripheral flanges20-20 at the inner sides thereof, which flare outwardly. The rubber ringl3 of each unit A, which ring is embraced between the metal rings 16-16,is preferably vulcanized to the right hand ring l6, as seen in FigureLand the rubber ring l4 and the rubber block l5 are secured in a similarmanner to the right hand ring J1 and the right hand pan-shapedmember l8.

Each unit B includes a flat metal backing plate 25, outer and inner,relatively heavy :rub-, ber rings 2|-2:| and 22-22 of substantiallyrectangular shape, outer and inner, relatively lighter, :rectangularrubber rings 23-23 and 24-24, andelongated rubber blocks 26-26, all ofwhich are vulcanized to said plate. 'FIhe-rubber rings 23-23, .which arethe outermost of the group, :are located at opposite sides :of the plate25 and bear on the outer.sidesof therings lB-IB .of adjacent units A-A.The rubber rings 2l-2l of each unit B project fromsoppoe site sides ofthe plate 25 .and are spacedfrom the rings Iii-l6, being surrounded bythe-latter. The rings 2l-2ll project from the plate 25 to a greaterextent than the rings 23-23. Each ring 2| is tapered outwardly and haswedging engagement between the metal rings I6 .and I! at the opposedside of the adjacent unit A. The rings 22-22 of each unit B, which arethe innermost rings, project from opposite sides :of the, plate 25 :and.each .ofsaid rings is tapered outwardly and has wedging engagementbetween the metal ring I! and the pan-shaped member l8 at the opposedside of the adjacent unit A. The rings 24-24 of each unit B project fromopposite sides of the member 8. Each ring 24 is located between therings 2! and 22 and bears on the metal ring 11 at the opposed side ofthe adjacent unit A. The rubber blocks of each unit B project fromopposite sides of the plate 25, substantially at the mid portionthereof, being aligned with and bearin on the pan-shaped members 3-18 ofthe adjacent units A-A, which are located at opposite sides of the unitB.

As shown in Figure 1, aheavy metal plate 21 provided with rubberrings28, 29, 30, and 3|, and a rubber block 32 on the inner sidethereof, forms the rear end member of the rubber shock absorbingelement. This plate bears flatly on the end wall ll of the casing Ill.The arrangement and structure of the rings 28, 29, 30, and 3! and of theblock 32 of the plate 21 are identical with the arrangement andstructure of the rings 2 I, 22. 23, and 24 and the block 26 at one sideof the plate 25 of each unit B.

At the front end of the improved rubber shock absorbing element ispreferably provided a heavy plate 33 bearing at its forward side on theplunger 12. This plate is provided with outer and inner, rectangularrubber rings 34 and 35 of outwardly tapered formation, projecting fromthe rear side thereof. The ring 34 has wedging engagement between themetal rings is and I1 and the ring 35 has wedgingengagement between themetal ring l1 and pan-shaped member 18 at the front side of the adjacentunit A of the shock absorbing element.

In the operation of my improved shock absorbing element, uponcompression of the same between the plunger l2 and the end wall ll ofthe casing IQ of the shock absorbing mechanism, the rubber rings I3 andI4 andthe rubber block l5 of each unit A are flattened out be tween themetal rings l5-l6 and 11-11, and the pan-shaped members l8-l8 and therubber rings 23-23 and 24- and the rubber blocks 26-26 of each unit Bare flattened out between the plate 21 of said unit and the metal ringsIG-IB and lI-ll and the pan-shaped members l8-I8 of the units A atopposite sides of said unit B, and the rubber rings 2 l-22 are flattenedout and contracted by being wedged between the metal rings Iii-l6 andI'I-l'! and the panshaped members Ill-l8 of the adjacent units A-A.

When the actuating force is reduced, the expansive action of the rubberrings and blocks restores all of the parts of the shock absorbingelement to the normal full release position shown in Figure 1, theexpansive action of the rings 23-23 and 24-24 and of the blocks 26-26 ofthe plates 21 of the units B-B acting to positively withdraw thewedge-shaped rings 2l-2i and 22-22 from active wedging engagement withthe metal rings IB-IG and l'l-l'l and the panshaped members Iii-l8.

I claim:

1. In a rubber shock absorbing element-for railway draft riggings, thecombination with a series of units; of a second series of unitsalternated with said first named units, each of said first named unitsincluding a plurality of concentric rubber rings, and a pair of sheetmetal rings bearing on the front and rear sides of each rubber ring,eachof said secondnamed 4 units including a metal backing plate havingwedge-shaped rubber rings having wedging engagement between adjacentmetal rings of the first named units, which metal rings are at oppositesides of each of said second named units.

2. In a rubber shock absorbing element for railway draft riggings, thecombination with a series of rubber units, each including concentricrubber rings embraced at opposite sides by sheet metal spacing ringshaving laterally projecting,

inwardly diverging flanges overhanging said rubber rings; of a secondseries of units alternated with said first named units, each of saidsecond named units including a metal backing plate having rubber ringsprojecting from opposite sides thereof, said last named rubber ringsbeing tapered outwardly and having wedging engage- 'ment with theflanges of the spacing rings of the unitsof said first named serieswhich are at opposite sides of said second named units.

3. In a rubber shock absorbing element for railway draft riggings, thecombination with a series of units; of a second series of unitsalternated with said first named units, each of said first named unitsincluding a plurality of concentric rubber rings, and a pair of sheetmetal rings bearing on the front and rear sides of each rubber ring,each of said second named units including a metal backing plate havingwedgeshaped rubber rings having wedging engagement between adjacentmetal rings of the first-named units, which metal rings are at oppositesides of each of said second named units, said plates of said secondnamed units having additional rubber rings'projecting from oppositesides thereof bearing flatly on said metal rings of said first namedunits.

4. In a rubber shock absorbing element for railway draft riggings, thecombination with a series of rubber units, each including concentricrubber rings embraced at opposite sides by sheet metal spacing ringshaving laterally projecting, inwardly diverging flanges overhanging saidrubber rings; of a second series of units alternated with said firstnamed units, each of said second named units including a metal back ingplate having rubber rings projecting from opposite sides thereof, saidlast named rubber rings being tapered outwardly and having wedgingengagement with the flanges of the spacing rings of the units of saidfirst named series which are at opposite sides of said second namedunits, said plates of said second named units having additional rubberrings projecting from opposite sides thereof bearing flatly on saidmetal rings of said first named units.

GEORGE E. DATH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent: V 1

UNITED STATES PATENTS

